This is the fifth in a series of reflections on 50 years of Ministry from Pastor Johnson. We hope you are blessed by them.
Dear Disciple of Christ,
Is your church having Christmas Eve services this year? OK, maybe that’s a pretty dumb question but if you answered, “Yes,” as I expect you did, then I can proceed with the point of the devotion for today. There actually are a number of denominations who consider the celebration of Christmas (and even Easter) on a particular day (like some of us are doing this Christmas Eve on Wednesday) to be in direct opposition to this Word of the Lord provided by Paul. But our study of Scripture (like Galatians 4:10) would easily clarify that the “days and months and season and years” refer to Jewish practices held onto by Judaizers in the early church. They were attempting to simply “tweak” the Jewish religion to allow for the addition of some Christian perspectives. But, the bottom line was, they felt that if a Gentile wanted to become a Christian, they first needed to accept and practice the traditions of the Jews (becoming a Jew first and taking on those Jewish practices).
That, of course, is not what we are doing as we celebrate Christmas (or Easter, or Transfiguration or Pentecost or any of the “holy days” of the church year). The focus of those days (and months and years) is not our actions to wash away sins but to remember the work of God through Christ and His Holy Spirit. So, on Wednesday, many of us will attend churches on the Eve of the birth of Christ who came to take away our sin. We will focus on the One born of the virgin, Mary, who was like us, and tempted like us, but without sin (Hebrews 4:15). For disciples of Christ, this is a day of rejoicing and reflection on what God has done for us in Christ.
This raises the question, “Can you imagine what this holiday season would be like for you without the faith?” I mean you would join the millions (billions?) of people for whom Christmas has no connection to Jesus. Christmas would become a “season,” a nice time for family gatherings and gift giving and gift getting. We would join them in struggling to get through the season and remain married. Yes, you read that correctly. As odd as it may seem, in a season focused on love and songs and parties, December is one of the toughest months on marriages. There has been no definitive study to indicate the cause but I wonder if some of it might be the expectations people have and how they fall short. Is it the secular picture of the “happy family” gathered around the dining room table enjoying perfect family time or quietly gathered around the Christmas tree opening presents one at a time with hugs shared all around that causes the challenge? Who can live up to such a picture? (*If you haven’t seen Clark Griswold try in “Christmas Vacation,” you’ve missed the ultimate “family man’s” attempt (as his co-worker calls him).
What we should and shouldn’t do, the model for the holiday activities is described on TV and we’re hard pressed to measure up. It’s not that the food is bad or the presents are given without thought, but the reality of our children eating or opening presents is not exactly (or even close) to that portrayed on TV. Then there is the problem for a growing percentage of our society who will have no family with which to share the holiday. It could be that a long (or short) time spouse has left (died, separated or divorced). With more families being a combination of multiple families, just deciding where dinner or Christmas events are held can be a problem and divide what little unity is left in the family.
Honestly, I’m not picking on those people. My heart goes out to them. But I am pointing to a solution that cannot be found in the secular realm or by trying harder. But I am saying that a blessed Christmas can only be found in the One for whom the season is named (Christ-mass). This is the One who came to bring peace on earth and good will toward all people. He would be named Jesus because he would save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:18-21). That’s right, Jesus did not come for the sake of Hallmark cards or as a model of retailers sales items (like the “holy family” or the crèche scene). No. Jesus came because of the aforementioned challenges (sin at work in our lives). The struggles we have in achieving the perfect secular experience (food, family gatherings, gifts given and received) arise because His example is missing. There is no such thing as a perfect Christmas without Christ. It will simply be a secular celebration perfectly done by sinners.
So I made my comment about our churches and the services that are likely to be held there. It may seem an interruption in the family time to some, but it is an attempt on the part of the faith community to center this last day of the holiday season?) on the “Reason for the season.” Jesus was, is and always will be the ultimate and central and crucial reason for the season. If He is missing, the announced joy of the angels about “peace and good will among men” (Luke 2:8-14), will be nothing more than a cliché on a “holiday card.” While our world is on the verge of wars, while our families struggle to “survive” another year (or month or week or day), trying harder on our own will just not work. We are in bondage (if we do not know God through His Son). We are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.
So we will each gather at our churches (Lord willing, we will) somewhere in the states (at your church or your family’s church elsewhere) to reflect on the gift of Jesus and praise God for that gift. Yes, the worship services may be moving, but beyond the emotions that may come with the singing of Silent Night by candlelight, comes the concrete Gift of a Savior, of the gift of OUR Savior, to take away the sins of the world and OUR sin. It is He who will restore peace in our hearts, our families, and our world.
And that peace, which surpasses all human understanding, is part of the message we carry with us this week. We ought to invite others to join us. We have been called to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” What a perfect time to invite those who have no church, no faith, no Savior, to come and hear of the One who is at the center of the season and the center of our churches and the center of our lives. How sad for those left to a secular holiday and what a missed opportunity it would be for us who received the Great Commission, if those in need of Good News were simply left with the TV news.
1) Have you asked God to put a person in your mind who is now ready to be invited to worship and praise at Christmas? (Since this is His mission in which we participate, He will give us the right words at the right time).
2) Have you been praying for them and for yourself, that your words and actions would be a proclamation of God’s love for them?
3) Will you pray even now for the opportunity to extend the invitation for them to join you in worship on Christmas Eve?
May this week be a week of praise of God for the gift of Christ and a time of witness for us who have come to know the grace and mercy and love of God that comes in Him.
Peace in the Lord, Jesus,
Pastor Johnson